CN107521452B

CN107521452B - Airbag assembly comprising an airbag and a skin having a recessed area

Info

Publication number: CN107521452B
Application number: CN201710452836.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 伊斯坎德·法鲁克; 迪恩·M·贾拉迪; 穆罕默德·奥玛·法鲁克
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2016-06-20
Filing date: 2017-06-15
Publication date: 2021-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-15
Also published as: GB201709581D0; MX2017008153A; US9902362B2; RU2017121273A; CN107521452A; US20170361802A1; GB2552413A; DE102017113304A1; RU2017121273A3

Abstract

The airbag assembly includes an airbag and a skin. The skin extends from a first apex to a second apex, the first apex and the second apex being spaced from the airbag. The skin includes a recessed region between the first apex and the second apex. The recessed area is attached to the airbag. During a vehicle collision, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant toward the depressed region of the skin. The airbag may absorb energy from the occupant and the apex supports the occupant to retain the occupant in the recessed area.

Description

Airbag assembly comprising an airbag and a skin having a recessed area

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of vehicles, in particular to an airbag assembly comprising an airbag and a skin with a recessed area.

Background

Vehicles may include amenities that allow face-to-face between passengers during operation of the vehicle. For example, an autonomous vehicle may operate autonomously, allowing a vehicle occupant seated in the vehicle to not need to monitor the operation of the vehicle. In particular, the autonomous vehicle may include a seat that is free to rotate during operation of the vehicle. This may allow the occupants of the seats to face each other and communicate. This may also allow all passengers to relax, communicate with each other, and focus on vehicle amenities.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle passenger compartment comprising:

a vehicle roof;

an airbag supported by the vehicle roof;

a skin extending from a first apex to a second apex, the first apex and the second apex spaced apart from the airbag;

the skin includes a recessed region between the first apex and the second apex, the recessed region being attached to the airbag.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the recessed area has a concave shape.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first apex and the second apex are attached to the roof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the airbag comprises a bottom part and a top part arranged between the bottom part and the roof, and wherein the skin is attached to the bottom part of the airbag.

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the skin is attached to the roof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the airbag is elongated along an airbag axis transverse to the roof, and the recessed region is curved about a recessed region axis, the recessed region axis being generally parallel to the airbag axis.

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the airbag is inflatable to an inflated position, and the vehicle passenger compartment further comprises a seat, the seat being disposed in the recessed area when the airbag is in the inflated position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein in the inflated position the airbag is elongated from the roof along an airbag axis, and wherein the seat is rotatable relative to the airbag about a seat axis, the seat axis being generally parallel to the airbag axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the skin extends from the second apex to a third apex, and wherein the skin comprises a second recessed area between the second apex and the third apex, the second recessed area being attached to the airbag.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the skin extends circumferentially around the airbag about the airbag axis.

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the airbag includes an inflatable chamber and the skin is external to the inflatable chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the skin is made of fabric.

According to the present invention, there is provided an airbag assembly comprising:

an air bag;

According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the skin is elongate along an airbag axis and the recessed area is curved about a recessed area axis, the recessed area axis being generally parallel to the airbag axis.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the skin is made of fabric.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle including an airbag assembly supported by the roof of the vehicle with the airbag assembly in an undeployed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the airbag assembly of FIG. 1 in a deployed position including defining a plurality of recessed regions aligned with a seat of a vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a vehicle including an airbag and a seat;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an airbag assembly;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag assembly in the deployed position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vehicle passenger compartment including a headliner and tear seam;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an inflation system of the vehicle.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views, an airbag assembly 10 of a vehicle 12 includes an airbag 14 and a skin 16. The skin 16 extends from a first apex 18 to a second apex 20, the first apex 18 and the second apex 20 each being spaced from the airbag 14. The skin 16 includes a recessed region 22 between the first 18 and second 20 vertices. The recessed area 22 is attached to the airbag 14.

As described further below, the airbag assembly 10 is deployable from an undeployed position, as shown in fig. 1 and 6, to a deployed position, as shown in fig. 2-5. The airbag assembly 10 in the deployed position may absorb energy from an occupant (not shown) during a vehicle collision, thereby reducing the likelihood of the occupant colliding with other occupants and/or colliding with components of the passenger compartment 24 of the vehicle 12. As described further below, the airbag assembly 10 may deploy in response to a vehicle collision. Specifically, the airbag 14 may be inflated from an uninflated position to an inflated position, thereby moving the airbag assembly 10 from an undeployed position to a deployed position. As the airbag 14 inflates, the airbag 14 may elongate to pull the skin 16 to the deployed position.

During a vehicle collision, an occupant may be forced into the recessed area 22 of the skin 16, and the

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66 may retain the head of the occupant in the recessed area 22, thereby reducing the likelihood of the occupant colliding with other occupants and/or with other components of the passenger compartment 24 of the vehicle 12. In this case, when the head of the occupant collides against the skin 16, the airbag 14 reinforces the skin 16, that is, the airbag 14 reinforces the skin 16 at the back, thereby absorbing energy from the occupant. Also, during a vehicle collision, the passenger's legs and knees may be forced into the recessed areas 22 of the skin 16, and the

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66 may retain the passenger's legs and knees in the recessed areas 22. The airbag 14 reinforces the skin 16 to assist in maintaining the occupant in an upright position and to reduce forward movement of the occupant, which may reduce the head injury index (HIC).

The vehicle 12, for example, may be an autonomous vehicle. In other words, the vehicle may operate autonomously as follows: the vehicle 12 may be driven without the driver's constant attention, i.e., the vehicle 12 may be self-driving without human input. During operation of the autonomous vehicle, passengers may face each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 includes a vehicle body 26 that defines a passenger compartment 24 of the vehicle 12. The vehicle body 26 may include a roof 28, a floor 30, and a plurality of pillars (not numbered). The vehicle body 26 may have a load-bearing body structure, a non-load-bearing body structure, or any other suitable structure.

With continued reference to fig. 1, the roof 28 may include a plurality of roof rails 32 and a headliner 34 supported on the roof rails 32 as shown in fig. 6. The roof rail 32 may be supported by the pillars and/or any other component of the vehicle body 26.

As shown in fig. 6, the headliner 34 may have a tear seam 36, the tear seam 36 allowing the airbag assembly 10 to breach the headliner 34 toward the floor 30 as the airbag assembly 10 moves to the deployed position. In the undeployed position, the tear seam 36 may be adjacent the airbag assembly 10. The tear seam 36 may be formed in a cross shape. Alternatively, the tear seam 36 may match the shape of the skin 16, such as an equilateral polygonal (isotoxal) star.

As shown in FIG. 1, the passenger compartment 24 of the vehicle 12 may include one or more seats 38. For example, as shown in the figures, the passenger compartment 24 of the vehicle 12 may include a plurality of seats 38 supported by the floor 30. The vehicle 12 may include any suitable number of seats 38, and the seats 38 may be arranged in any suitable arrangement. The seat 38 and airbag assembly 10 may be arranged such that: as shown in fig. 2-3, the airbag assembly 10 is between the seats 38 in the deployed position. For example, as shown in the figures, the seats 38 may be arranged in an annular pattern. As another example, seats 38 may be arranged in a front row (not shown) and a rear row (not shown). The seat may be, for example, a bucket seat, a bench seat, a child seat, a booster seat, or any other suitable type of seat.

With continued reference to fig. 1, each seat 38 may include a seat bottom 40. The seat back 42 may extend upward from the seat bottom 40 and may recline relative to the seat bottom 40. A base (not numbered) may support the seat bottom 40 on the floor 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seat 38 may be mounted in a fixed position on the floor 30. Alternatively, the seats 38 may be individually or collectively movable as a unit relative to the floor 30 of the vehicle 12, such as on a circular path around a circle, in the forward, rearward and/or transverse vehicle directions. In other words, the base of the seat 38 may be movable relative to the vehicle 30 in a vehicle forward-rearward direction and/or a transverse vehicle direction.

The seat 38 may be rotatable about a seat axis S. Specifically, the seat 38 may be rotated 180 and 360 about the seat axis S to any selected position. As shown in fig. 2, the seat axis S may be generally parallel to the airbag axis a in the deployed position. As shown in fig. 1-3, the seats 38 may be independently rotatable to a position facing each other. For example, in this position, the airbag assembly 10 in the deployed position may reduce the likelihood of the occupants colliding with each other.

The airbag assembly 10 may be supported by a vehicle roof 28. For example, the airbag assembly 10 may be mounted to the roof rail 32, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the airbag assembly 10 may be disposed between the roof rail 32 and the headliner 34 in the undeployed position.

The airbag assembly 10 may include an airbag base 44, the airbag base 44 being connected to the roof 28 and supporting the airbag 14. The airbag base 44 may house the airbag 14 in an uninflated position and may provide a reaction surface as the airbag 14 inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position. For example, the airbag base 44 may include clips, panels, etc. for attachment to the airbag 14 and for attaching the airbag assembly 10 to the roof rail 32 or other suitable portion of the roof 28.

The airbag 14 may be constructed of any suitable type of material, such as a woven polymer. For example, the airbag 14 may be constructed of woven nylon filaments, such as nylon 6. Other suitable examples include Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester (polyester), or any other suitable polymer. The woven polymer may include a coating such as silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, polysiloxane, and the like.

As mentioned above, the airbag 14 may be inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 14 in the inflated position may have a top portion 46 adjacent the roof 28, a bottom portion 48 adjacent the floor 30, and a side skin 50 extending from the bottom portion 48 to the top portion 46. The airbag 14 may include a plenum 52 defined by the top 46, bottom 48, and side skin 50. The airbag 14 in the inflated position, i.e., the side skin 50, may be elongated along an airbag axis a. The airbag 14 may have any suitable shape in the inflated position, such as a cylindrical shape.

As shown in fig. 4, the skin 16 may extend circumferentially around the airbag 14. In other words, the skin 16 may extend completely around the airbag 14. The skin 16 may be concentric with the airbag 14 about an airbag axis a, i.e., the airbag axis a may be the center of both the airbag 14 and the skin 16, such that the skin 16 and the airbag 14 share the airbag axis a.

As shown in fig. 5, the skin 16 is exterior to the inflation chamber 52 of the airbag 14. In other words, the skin 16 is the exterior of the side skin 50 of the airbag 14, with the side skin 50 disposed between the plenum 52 and the skin 16. The skin 16 and the side skin 50 may define a space 54 between the skin 16 and the side skin 50. The space 54 may be exterior to the plenum 52, and the space 54 may be open to the atmosphere when the skin 16 is deployed from the undeployed position to the deployed position. The space 54 may be completely separated from the plenum 52 by the side skin 50, or the space 54 may communicate with the plenum 52 through vents (not shown) in the side skin 50, but in any event, the space 52 is open to the atmosphere.

The skin 16 may be a single continuous element, such as a single piece of fabric, that extends circumferentially around the airbag 14. Alternatively, the skin 16 may comprise a plurality of sections, i.e. two or more sections. For example, the sections may be attached to each other in any suitable manner, such as by stitching a plurality of fabric skins together.

The skin 16 may be constructed of any suitable type of material, such as a woven polymer. For example, the skin 16 may be constructed of woven nylon filaments, such as nylon 6. Other suitable examples include Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester, or any other suitable polymer. The woven polymer may include a coating such as silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, polysiloxane, and the like. The skin 16 and the airbag 14 may be constructed of the same type of material or may be constructed of different materials.

Referring to fig. 2-5, the skin 16 may include a plurality of recessed

regions

22, 56, 58, 60 spaced circumferentially about the airbag 14. In particular, the skin 16 may include a recessed region 22, a second recessed region 56, a third recessed region 58, and a fourth recessed region 60 (shown in fig. 4 and 5). The skin 16 may include any suitable number, i.e., one or more, of recessed

regions

22, 56, 58, 60. As shown in fig. 4, the recessed region 22 is between the two

apexes

18, 20.

The skin 16 may be attached to the airbag 14 at the recessed area 22. For example, the recessed area 22 may be attached to the side skin 50, the bottom 48, and/or the top 46 of the airbag 14. For example, the recessed area 22 may be attached to the airbag 14 by a drawstring 62. Alternatively, the recessed region 22 may be attached to the airbag 14 by stitching or any other suitable attachment means. Because the skin 16 is attached to the airbag 14, the airbag 14 draws the skin 16 toward the deployed position as the airbag 14 inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position.

With continued reference to fig. 2-5, each recessed

area

22, 56, 58, 60 may be curved about a recessed area axis D. The depressed area 22 may have a concave shape with respect to the passenger. The concave shape may accommodate one of the seats 38. Alternatively, each recessed

area

22, 56, 58, 60 may have any suitable shape that receives an occupant of the seat 38 between the two

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66 during a vehicle collision. Referring to fig. 2 and 4, each recessed

area

22, 56, 58, 60 can be elongated along a recessed area axis D.

With continued reference to fig. 2, in the deployed position, each seat 38 may be disposed in one of the recessed

areas

22, 56, 58, 60. In other words, each seat 38 may be positioned adjacent one of the recessed

areas

22, 56, 58, 60, each recessed

area

22, 56, 58, 60 with two of the

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66, each recessed

area

22, 56, 58, 60 partially enclosing the seat 38. Recessed area 22 may accommodate rotation of seat 38. In other words, seat 38 may be able to rotate within recessed area 22.

The skin 16 may include a plurality of

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66, the plurality of

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66 being circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the airbag 14. In particular, the skin 16 may include a first apex 18, a second apex 20, a third apex 64, and a fourth apex 66 (shown in fig. 4 and 5). The skin 16 may include any suitable number of

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66, i.e., two or more.

As shown in fig. 3, each apex 18, 20, 64, 66 is spaced from the airbag 14. Each

vertex

18, 20, 64, 66 may include an angular point as shown in the figures. Alternatively, each

vertex

18, 20, 64, 66 may be rounded.

The

apexes

18, 20, 64, 66 may be attached to the roof 28. As one example, as shown in FIG. 2, each apex 18, 20, 64, 66 may be attached to roof 28 by a pull strap 78. Specifically, a pull strap 78 extends from each apex 18, 20, 64, 66 to one of the roof rails 32. The pull straps 78 may be attached to any suitable portion of the

vertices

18, 20, 64, 66, such as the vertex vertices adjacent the top 46 of the airbag 14, and/or may be attached to each

vertex

18, 20, 64, 66 at a plurality of locations along the recessed region axis D. Instead of the roof rail 32, the pull straps 78 may extend to the roof 28, the airbag base 44, or any other component of the vehicle body 26. Other suitable examples include clips, screws, or any other suitable fasteners in place of pull straps 78. Alternatively, each apex 18, 20, 64, 66 may be attached to an intermediate component, such as a panel, that is attached to the roof 28.

The airbag assembly 10 may include an inflator 68 in fluid communication with the airbag 14 to inflate the airbag 14 from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The inflator 68 inflates the airbag 14 with an inflation medium, such as a gas, thereby inflating the airbag 14 from an uninflated position to an inflated position. Specifically, the inflator 68 may be in communication with the inflation chamber 52 to provide inflation media to the inflation chamber 52.

The inflator 68 may be supported by the roof 28, such as in the airbag base 44 or mounted directly to the roof rail 32. Alternatively, the inflator 68 may be disposed at any other suitable portion of the vehicle body 26, such as a pillar.

For example, the inflator 68 may be a pyrotechnic inflator that uses a chemical reaction to drive the inflation medium into the airbag 14. Alternatively, the inflator 68 may be, for example, a low temperature gas inflator that, when triggered, ignites a pyrotechnic charge to create an opening for the release of pressurized inflation medium through a fill tube 70 into the airbag 14. Alternatively, the inflator 68 may be of any suitable type, such as a hybrid inflator.

Referring to FIG. 7, the vehicle 12 may include an inflation system 72. The inflation system 72 includes a processor 74, and the processor 74 is programmed to initiate inflation of the airbag 14 in response to a vehicle collision. The processor 74 may be embedded in a microcontroller. The microcontroller may include memory or the like. The memory of the microcontroller may store instructions executable by the processor 74, and the processor 74 may read the instructions from the memory and execute the instructions.

The vehicle 12 may include a collision detection sensor 76, with the collision detection sensor 76 programmed to detect a vehicle collision of the vehicle body 26. The collision detection sensor 76 may be disposed in the vehicle body 26 or other location of the vehicle 12. The collision detection sensor 76 may be of various types, such as a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a vision sensor, and the like. When a vehicle collision occurs, the processor 74 may receive one or more signals from the collision detection sensors 76 indicative of the vehicle collision. In response to receiving a signal from the collision detection sensor 76, the processor 74 may initiate inflation of the airbag 14. Alternatively, the processor 74 may selectively initiate inflation of the airbag 14 based on information from the crash detection sensor 76 identifying physical characteristics of the impacting vehicle (e.g., which side of the impacting vehicle 12, the amount of pressure applied to the vehicle body 26, etc.) and seat occupancy information, such as by sensing the occupancy state of the seat 38 using an occupancy processor disposed within the seat 38.

To receive the signal from the impact detection sensor 76 and to initiate inflation of the airbag 14, the processor 74 communicates with the impact detection sensor 76 and the inflator 68, such as via direct wires (analog or digital signals are transmitted via direct wires) or via a communication Network (e.g., Controller Area Network (CAN), Ethernet, Local Interconnect Network (LIN), or any other means).

In operation, under normal operating conditions of the vehicle 12, the airbag assembly 10 is in the undeployed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the crash detection sensor senses a crash of the vehicle 12, the processor 74 triggers the inflator 68 to inflate the airbag 14 with an inflation medium from an uninflated position to an inflated position. When the airbag 14 is inflated to the inflated position, the airbag 14 stretches the skin 16, i.e., pulls the skin 16 from the undeployed position to the deployed position shown in FIG. 2. In other words, as the airbag 14 inflates, the airbag 14 may pull the recessed

areas

22, 56, 58, 60 along the recessed area axis D. As the occupant moves within the vehicle 12 due to the momentum of the vehicle collision, the occupant may move toward the respective recessed

area

22, 56, 58, 60. The airbag 14 backs up the skin 16 to absorb energy from the occupant when the occupant impacts the depressed region 22. Specifically, the airbag 14 may absorb energy from the occupant's head and upper torso, and may receive the occupant's legs and knees to support the occupant in standing upright. The

apexes

18, 20, 64, 66 may retain an occupant in the recessed area 22.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A vehicle passenger compartment, comprising:

a vehicle roof;

an airbag supported by the vehicle roof;

a skin extending from a first apex to a second apex, the first apex and the second apex spaced from the airbag;

the skin includes a first recessed area between the first apex and the second apex, the first recessed area attached to the airbag;

the skin extends from the second apex to a third apex, and wherein the skin includes a second recessed region between the second apex and the third apex, the second recessed region attached to the airbag.

2. The vehicle passenger compartment of claim 1, wherein the first and second recessed regions have a concave shape.

3. The vehicle passenger compartment of any of claims 1-2, wherein the first vertex and the second vertex are attached to the roof.

4. The vehicle passenger compartment of any of claims 1-2, wherein the airbag includes a bottom portion and a top portion disposed between the bottom portion and the roof, and wherein the skin is attached to the bottom portion of the airbag.

5. A vehicle passenger compartment according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the airbag is elongate along an airbag axis transverse to the roof, and the first and second recessed regions are curved about a recessed region axis, the recessed region axis being generally parallel to the airbag axis.

6. The vehicle passenger compartment of any of claims 1-2, wherein the airbag is inflatable to an inflated position, and the vehicle passenger compartment further comprises a seat disposed in the first and second recessed areas when the airbag is in the inflated position.

7. The vehicle passenger compartment of claim 6, wherein in the inflated position the airbag is elongated from the roof along an airbag axis transverse to the roof, and wherein the seat is rotatable relative to the airbag about a seat axis that is generally parallel to the airbag axis.

8. The vehicle passenger compartment of any of claims 1-2, wherein the skin extends circumferentially around the airbag about an airbag axis that is transverse to the roof.

9. The vehicle passenger compartment of any of claims 1-2, wherein the airbag includes a plenum and the skin is external to the plenum.

10. An airbag assembly comprising:

an air bag;

11. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the first recessed region and the second recessed region have a concave shape.

12. The airbag assembly of any of claims 10-11, wherein the skin extends circumferentially around the airbag about an airbag axis that is transverse to a vehicle roof.

13. The airbag assembly of any of claims 10-11, wherein the airbag comprises a plenum, and wherein the skin is external to the plenum.